(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Lottery Commission has signed off on major changes to the multi-state Mega Millions game slated to begin in April. Lottery C-E-O Matt Strawn says the changes are designed to draw more players. “The Mega Millions Consortium, which is a group of states that actually governs the Mega Millions game, thoroughly researched and designed these changes to provide a variety of options new excitement and the large grand prize jackpot amounts that players in research say is necessary for those premier lotto games today,” Strawn says. The cost of Mega Millions ticket will go from two to five dollars, with the promise of a bigger payout.

“The Mega Millions starting jackpot will more than double to 50 million dollars and with the redesign, the grand prize jackpot will grow faster and produce more frequent to billion dollar plus jackpots,” he says. Strawn says all levels of prizes will increase. “There will no longer be any break even prices, so the smallest prize in the revamped game will be doubling your ticket price. So ten dollars, twice the purchase price,”Strawn says. Players now have to pay an extra dollar for the multiplier that increases the jackpot. Strawn says the multiplier now comes automatically with every ticket and will randomly increase your winnings from two up to ten times. Your the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot will improve.

“Dropping from about one in 303 million to about one in 290 million,” he says. “And correspondingly, the overall odds of winning any prize in the game will also improve. “The first drawing of the reconfigured  Mega Millions game is set for Tuesday, April 8th 2025.

Iowa is one of 44 states along with the District of Columbia and the U-S Virgin Islands which sell Mega Millions. The game is 20 years old, but Iowa didn’t start selling it until 2010.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion is praising President-elect Trump’s pressure campaign that has derailed a bipartisan deal to keep the federal government operating.  Elon Musk took to his social media platform to criticize the now-abandoned spending and policy package early Wednesday and a few hours later President-elect Trump called on Republicans to start over, with a clean spending plan that includes raising the limit on the federal government’s allowed to borrow.

An extension of the Farm Bill, more disaster assistance and allowing E-15 be sold year-round were including in the now-abandoned package. Hinson says she’s hoping all those elements are included in whatever alternative emerges.

Hinson made her comments during a conference call with Iowa reporters this (Thursday) morning.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held a Special Meeting today (Thursday), and acted on disbursements of remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) – Covid Relief Funds. The Department of Treasury, Wednesday, announced ARPA Funds must be OBLIGATED, not approved by a resolution, by December 31, 2024, and methods by which governments are allowed to comply with the new definition. Supervisor Steve Green expressed his dismay with the last minute decision by the Treasury Department.

The Board approved a means to obligate the $10,150.54 balance not yet used for the Secondary Roads Radio System Project. Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said if the funds need to be spent, he can use them in the two week time frame remaining, if that needs to be done. Supervisor Wendy Richter added to the discussion.

Following discussion, Steve Green motioned, and the Board approved, the use the remaining balance of of those funds for the Secondary Roads Department, and for the funds to be transferred when the bill arrives. They also approved paying Vision Atlantic’s ARPA allocation for the child care center, which was approved in a resolution on July 2nd, 2024. In other ARPA-related news, the Cass County Supervisors passed a resolution allocating the ARPA Fund balance from the Ambulance Purchase Project, for Emergency Medical Services Training. Board Chair Steve Baier explains…

Cass County Board of Supervisors Special meeting. Supervisor Wendy Richter joined via Zoom.

And, in what Steve Baier called “Further ARPA house cleaning,” the Board passed a resolution allocating ARPA Funds for Cass County Libraries, in the total amount of $20,291.91.

Supervisor Wendy Richter added clarification to the discussion.

The funds will be proportioned-out to all the public libraries in Cass County.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Parks Advisory Committee, Wednesday, agreed to change the policy for shelter rental reservations from half-day, to full-day. The City has seven park shelters available for use. Commission Chairman Kevin Ferguson said the reason for the change has to do with keeping the shelters clean.

The fee for renting for a full day – regardless of whether or not it is used for that long – will be $50. The Committee will forward its recommendation to the full City Council for approval.

Sunnyside Park Shelter

The Committee agreed also to have Parks and Rec Coordinator Jeff Christensen arrange for the purchase of new trash cans for installation at the various City parks and along trails. The cost for 21 55-gallon capacity trash cans is $11,443.81. The cans, which come with lids, will be blue in color, and featured a metal, mesh construction. They will replace 21 cans that are worn out.

The Commission authorized the purchase of additional trash cans, as needed.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s proposed sidewalk improvement plan was updated during Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Atlantic City Council. Councilman Shawn Sarsfield said the Sidewalk Committee met Wednesday afternoon, and agreed to pick three areas where sidewalks are most in need of improvement.

For those property owners who can’t afford the cost of concrete, Sarsfield said the City may be able to help.

If sidewalks are repaired by the City, they must be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.

Once the sidewalks are repaired, the property owner is responsible for maintaining them. Shawn Sarsfield said the sidewalk initiative is one aspect of a five-year project, and that “Patience and understanding” will be needed by residents of the City until sidewalks in their area are repaired or replaced.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Waste Reduction Center in Cedar Falls is launching a program to help smaller communities in the Midwest use composting to improve water quality. The Center’s Jennifer Trent says they will work with seven communities across four states to help build small compost facilities. “We’re going to be training them how to take the compost that they manufacture and how to use that to protect local water sources,” she says. They can use the compost they get from those facilities. “Compost has the ability to filter out pollutants and to also break down pollutants,” Trent says. The towns in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois with populations of fewer than 25-hundred people sit on E-P-A designated impaired waterways. Trent says the goal is to get those waters off the impaired list.

“So when water enters into a river, if you have strategically placed compost, you can eliminate pollution from entering the water source,” she says. She says another benefit could be reducing the amount of food waste sent to community landfills. Education workshops will start in May and run through August.

(Radio Iowa) – A new federal study pegs the average American’s life expectancy around 77 years, which is an improvement, but still lags behind the pre-pandemic report that put the average at almost 79 years. How can Iowans live longer? Shayna Schertz, a wellness education specialist at Gundersen Health, says many factors go into giving you the best chance of living a long and healthy life. “That could be a healthy diet, including fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, lean protein,” Schertz says. “Getting physical activity, such as both cardio and strength training, it’s very important as we age. Having those strong social connections, and avoiding risky behaviors such as tobacco or alcohol.” Since COVID-19, many work environments have changed as employers allow more people to work from home, which means an increase in loneliness, and that can impact how long you live.

“Many people are more isolated than they used to be. They don’t have those meaningful relationships. They don’t get out in the community,” Schertz says. “Family starts to drift apart a little bit as you age. So just having those social connections, trying to get out as much as you can.” Another factor in life expectancy falls under the banner of life fulfillment, which means different things to different people. “Staying active, staying socially connected, taking care of yourself, setting goals to keep your mind and body both sharp,” Schertz says. “Goal setting is one thing that kind of falls off as we age, and it’s an important thing in life to keep striving, keep learning, keep expanding your mental health.” Studies find women typically live longer than men. That, too, may be due to a combination of things, including genetics, getting better sleep, women tend to be more socially engaged, and they also get medical checkups on a more routine basis than men.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report the arrest Wednesday afternoon, of 20-year-old Hunter Lee Bradford, of Creston. Bradford was taken into custody in the 300 block of W. Adams Streets, and charged with possession drug paraphernalia. He was cited and released at the scene, on a promise to appear in court.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand today (Thursday), released a report on a special investigation of the Cerro Gordo County Auditor’s Office for the period January 1, 2021 through April 30, 2024. The special investigation was requested by County officials as a result of concerns regarding certain transactions processed by the County Auditor, Adam Wedmore.

Sand reported the special investigation identified $663.58 of improper disbursements and $499.42 of unsupported disbursements. However, because County records were not sufficiently maintained, it was not possible to determine if additional amounts were improperly disbursed. Sand reported the $663.58 of improper disbursements identified include $640.00 of improper postage for campaign mailers by Mr. Wednore for his County Auditor’s re-election efforts using the County’s Pitney Bowes postage machine, and $23.58 of reimbursement checks issued to Mr. Wedmore for excessive mileage claimed. The $499.42 of unsupported disbursements identified includes postage using the County’s Pitney Bowes postage machine, and reimbursements to Mr. Wedmore.

Sand recommended County officials implement procedures to ensure the County’s internal controls are strengthened, including ensuring access controls are added to the County’s postage machine, periodic independent reviews of postage charges, and all disbursements are properly supported.

Copies of the report have been filed with the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, the Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office. A copy of the report is also available for review on the Auditor of State’s website at Special Interest Reports.

Cerro Gordo Auditors Office Report